I am a research scientist at NanoScience and Technology Center of University of Central Florida. My research interests are in optical materials, development of semiconductor optoelectronic devices, infrared plasmonics, metamaterials and Quantum Cascade Laser. I have 8+ years of experience in processing, testing and characterization of semiconductor devices using major research and development equipment such as thermal and e-beam evaporators, Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) system and Plasma etching systems, Photo/electron-beam lithography, SEM, FIB, Lab RAM HR Raman Spectrometer, die and wire bonding of chips and data analysis using Origin lab, MatLab and COMSOL Multiphysics.

Currently, I am leading a project on systematic study of the catastrophic optical damage (COD) mechanism in high power quantum cascade lasers (QCLs). I characterize both long and mid IR QCL in order to determine temperature profile across the active region of the laser using micro-Raman, microprobe photoluminescence spectroscopy and employ COMSOL multiphysics software for simulations to validate experimental data. These results may allow changes to laser design, fabrication and facet passivation, thereby increasing the damage threshold and developing a COD model.

I received my M.S. and Ph.D. in physics from the University of Central Florida on a Fulbright scholarship. My doctoral research work was focused on investigating the novel materials as host for infrared surface plasmon polariton resonances on heavily doped semiconductors, semimetals, and conducting polymers. It was a seminal work as first experimental evidence of infrared surface plasmons resonance (SPR) on heavily doped silicon. This seminal research work on IR plasmonics has been cited 100+ times by various research groups around the world.